mini phal no leaves? - Orchid Board

JerseyGirlBecky · #1 03-02-2012, 08:07 AM

Well, this is probably a really stupid question. I went to a friends and she had a mini phal on top of her trash. It was all dried out. I picked it up and it had some nice green roots but no leaves at all. Really pitiful. I did bring it home and put it in bark. Is it possible that it will make a new leaf? The roots are green and there are maybe 5 of them. I just want to see what happens with it. Is it possible do you think?

RosieC · #2 03-02-2012, 08:24 AM

There is a chance it will grow, but it will likely die.

I've seen pictures here of one that had lost all leaves but produced a basil keiki a month or so later allowing it to continue growing. Mine that got to that state all died but it IS possible.

Paul Mc · #3 03-02-2012, 08:41 AM

Best of luck!

camille1585 · #4 03-02-2012, 06:10 PM

If there are still good roots there is SOME hope, but not much really. Like Rosie says, there's always a chance of a basal keiki starting.

Go easy on the watering though, without any leaves suck up moisture from the roots, the water needs are much much lower. Between waterings try to mist the top of the medium daily, the extra humidity at the base of the (ex)plant seems to help stimulate root growth, so it may encourage a keiki as well.

tucker85 · #5 03-02-2012, 06:12 PM

Remember even if you get it to grow, it could be two or three years before you get any flowers.

JerseyGirlBecky · #6 03-03-2012, 07:53 AM

Thank you, I am not expecting anything really. But, just want to see what happens. My hopes are not high. when I saw those green roots I could not leave it in the trash.

silken · #7 03-03-2012, 11:52 AM

I have a seedling that just recently lost all of its leaves one by one. But I knew the roots were good so left it in the house where it is fairly warm. Now there is a tiny new green leaf emerging from the crown. Very tiny but I can almost see it get bigger every day. So if the crown hasn't rotted, there is some hope.

WhiteRabbit · #8 03-03-2012, 05:07 PM

I completely crown rotted a Phal that had good roots, I continued to care for it as normal and got a basal keiki a month or two later. No guarantee for this happening, but it's definitely possible.